Agra MP and film star Raj Babbar formally joined the Congress on Sunday along with a number of his supporters.
Babbar who won the seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket in 2004 had quit two years later after he raised the banner of revolt against its general secretary Amar Singh. Now he has joined the Congress at a time when the SP is supporting the UPA government. After quitting, Babbar had launched the Jan Morcha with former PM V.P. Singh.
Although he has represented Agra City twice in the Lok Sabha, in the coming elections Babbar will perhaps have to try his luck from Fatehpur Sikri (Rural), as Agra has been declared a reserved constituency. But it is believed that Singh has expressed reservations against leaving Fatehpur Sikri for him.
Babbar has already scored major success for the Congress by securing the defection of powerful Jat leader Raj Kumar Chahar from the BJP.
Congress's Uttar Pradesh chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Digvijay Singh welcomed the MP into the new party at function held at Telecom Grounds in Agra.